SMILE Definition Study Report

The SMILE definition study report describes a novel self-standing mission dedicated to observing solar wind-magnetosphere coupling via simultaneous in situ solar wind/magnetosheath plasma and magnetic field measurements, X-Ray images of the magnetosheath and magnetic cusps, and UV images of global auroral distributions defining system-level consequences. The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) will complement all solar, solar wind and in situ magnetospheric observations, including both space- and ground-based observatories, to enable the first-ever observations of the full chain of events that drive the Sun-Earth connection.

The PLATO mission

The PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission is in its definition study phase in the context of ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program. PLATO is applying for a launch in 2017/18. Its goal is to detect transiting exoplanets, including terrestrial planets in the habitable zone, and to determine their basic parameters with unprecedented accuracy. In combination with the detailed analysis of the stellar parameters by astroseismology and with ground-based follow-up observations, this will allow characterizing the main properties of exoplanetary systems to a level not achieved before.